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love and service

Matthew 11:3
"And said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?"

Christmas is near, and our anticipation builds as we prepare our hearts. Like us, the Jewish people at Jesus’ incarnation held varied expectations for the Messiah.

John the Baptist had once boldly declared Jesus the “Lamb of God” and witnessed the Spirit descend at His baptism. Now, imprisoned for over a year in the fortress of Machaerus after denouncing Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias, John sent disciples to ask this question.

The inquiry reveals a moment of tension between faith and doubt. Prolonged suffering and Jesus’ ministry—focused on healing and preaching rather than political or military deliverance—prompted John to wonder if Jesus truly was the promised Messiah.

This verse highlights a key Gospel theme: faith often coexists with doubt, especially in hardship. Yet God meets us in our uncertainty with grace and evidence. It also contrasts human expectations of a triumphant, powerful Messiah with Jesus’ actual mission of mercy, healing, and a kingdom built on love and service. Something we all need to be reminded of.
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